Executive Director, Tracking California

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 "Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For" by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

Introduction

The Public Health Institute (PHI) is seeking an outstanding and visionary leader in the field of environmental health and climate change to serve as Executive Director for its long-established program, Tracking California. Tracking California's mission is to mobilize data for public health action (see www.trackingcalifornia.org). Tracking California promotes justice and health equity by working with community groups, government agencies, researchers, and health advocates to shine a spotlight on environmental hazards, climate change and other factors that may be impacting community health.

SUMMARY

The Research Program Director III serves as the senior leader and Executive Director of Tracking California and will serve as Principal Investigator for several research and other public health projects within the Tracking California program. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall vision, strategic direction and programmatic leadership for Tracking California and for securing funding resources for Tracking California by spearheading multi-year grant proposals.

The Executive Director provides leadership and scientific direction for an interdisciplinary team-which has expertise in climate change and environmental health research and surveillance, health communications, policy, and community engaged research. The Executive Director also collaborates with leadership of other PHI programs and works to enhance and strengthen PHI's portfolio of projects in the areas of environmental health and climate change research. The Executive Director will be credentialed as a Principal Investigator at the Public Health Institute (PHI), reporting to the PHI's Associate Vice President of Research Programs.

This is a regular part-time position currently funded between 50% and 75% FTE. There is potential to expand to a regular full-time 100% FTE as soon as funding is secured, but there is also some flexibility to remain part-time to accommodate other part-time commitments such as academic appointments. The starting FTE will be determined upon hire.

Strong preference will be given to California-based candidates with consideration provided to candidates located elsewhere in the United States dependent on exceptional qualifications and experience. This position works remotely, with regular travel for in-person meetings and other work activities across California and occasional travel outside California required.

Full salary range for this position: $175,356 (Minimum) to $276,537 (Maximum) per year based on 100% FTE. The typical hiring range for this position is from $175,356 (minimum) to $225,947 (midpoint), based on 100% FTE. The starting salary is determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Employment Type: Part Time

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Core duties:

• Overall management of Tracking California, leading a diverse staff team and providing vision and strategic direction on Program activities related to environmental health and climate change.
• Lead, manage, and implement a comprehensive strategy to identify and secure funding sources by conceptualizing research proposals and working with staff team to develop grant applications that will ensure a robust research portfolio.
• Establish and maintain relationships with a wide variety of key stakeholders and organizations such as CDC, U.S. EPA, California state agencies such as CDPH, CalEPA, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic and other partners to chart the future of environmental health surveillance and research.
• Serve as PI of specific Tracking California projects as they are funded.

Additional duties:

• Serve as a spokesperson on behalf of Tracking California and PHI as needed with media and other partners and networks, working to strengthen and expand recognition for PHI's leadership in environmental health and climate-related research and surveillance.
• As appropriate, manage IRB submissions and ensure protection of human subjects. Hold Program staff accountable for ethical, legal, and scientific integrity in program activities, including knowledge of and adherence to all federal and state laws.
• Serve as a champion and steward of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Program.
• Provide scientific mentorship to program staff, ensuring adequate training is available, encouraging development of research proposals, and supporting dissemination of results through authoring publications and presenting at professional meetings.
• Recruit other researchers to collaborate with the Program.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experienced environmental health or climate change professional with at least 10 years of research experience in one or more of the subject areas of the program, and capacity to provide scientific mentorship to staff.
• Solid experience in securing funding awards to support the vision and goals of the Program, including demonstrated success with multi-year proposals in areas of environmental health and/or climate change.
• Minimum 7 years of experience as a manager of administrative and research staff.
• Master's degree in public health or related field.

Other Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership skills in vision setting, innovation, program building, and people management, with strong ability to attract and retain research and other talent.
• Collaborative management style, with a commitment to mentorship and staff growth.
• Strong commitment to program approach of working collaboratively with impacted communities, building strong partnerships and engaging with humility and respect.
• Strong commitment to health equity (including racial equity) and sensitivity towards the experiences of marginalized and/or historically underserved people, othering, structural exclusion, and cultural differences.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of epidemiologic methods, including study design and research and analysis methods.
• Experience with climate change and environmental health research and surveillance, with expertise in at least one environmental sub-specialty.
• Proven track record in successful publication of peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Doctorate in public health epidemiology or related field.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Interested applicants please apply to this posting and submit a copy of your current CV/resume and a cover letter that highlights your relevant skills and experience and explains why you are the best candidate for this position. Applications received by March 1st, 2025 will be given preference in the selection process.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) STATUS

This position is classified as exempt based on the job duties. However, based on the FTE, salary level of the employee, or federal/state/local laws, the employee may be classified as nonexempt.

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

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We're so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.

Additional information about PHI's benefits and compensation offerings can be found here.

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